Naim HDX Hard Disk Player

May 7, 2008 by Lukas Gilkey
Filed under: Home Audio > CD Players



The new Naim HDX Hard Disk Player is not only a data storage system, but doubles as a CD ripper. Once the HDX is done ripping a CD on its audio grade transport system, it pulls the artist, album and track titles from the internet. Naim claims the device makes "bit perfect" rips by reading the data multiple times and then stores the data on a pair of 400GB hard drives (one is a backup drive)

The HDX has a pretty impressive list of features:
* Independent multi-regulated power supplies for analogue and digital stages
* Burr-Brown PCM1791A digital to analogue converter
* 24 bit/192kHz internal architecture with support for hi-resolution audio formats
* Ultra low jitter re-clocking circuits
* Seven pole analogue output filtering using Burr Brown OPA604 op amps.
* Custom designed monolithic air cord transformer isolated analogue output stages
* Optional external XPS or CD555PS power supply

Naim says that the hard drives can hold roughly 600 CD's and each CD will take about 8 minutes to rip. For improved music searching, the HDX utilizes AllMusicGuide.com to allow extremely detailed searches. Of course if 400Gb isn't enough for you, the HDX plays friendly with external USB hard drives for an easy bump in storage space.

Specifications:
Line outputs DIN and RCA
Frequency response 10Hz-18kHz ± 0.1dB
Output levels 2.1V rms at 1kHz
Output impedance 22 Ohms maximum
Phase response Linear, absolute phase correct
Distortion and noise less than 0.1% 10 Hz - 18 kHz at full level
Disc compatibility Red book compatible CD, CDR & CDRW
Audio Files supported WAV, MP3, AAC (m4a only), FLAC, WMA
Mains supply 100-120V, 220-240V, 50/60Hz
Dimensions (H x W x D) 87 x 432 x 314mm
Weight 10.8kg
Finish - Black
Price ~$9,000

Source: Naim
Source: What Hi-Fi?
Comments (3)
Dave Kay 1 year and 9 months ago

The cooling fan is unfortunate, especially in something that costs $9000. The new Olive Opus holds up to 1TB of storage for $1800, without a fan.
lukas 1 year and 9 months ago

Naim has an interesting read on their site about the thermal analysis that led to the cooling fan.

Hard Disk Player Thermal Analysis

"We have chosen to use the fan at ambient temperatures above 25 Degrees C [77 Degrees F] to maintain the best reliability of the hard drives (the fan is controlled by monitoring the on board temperature sensor on the hard drives). The product also monitors the motherboard processor temperatures."

I'd be definitely be curious how often it comes on before purchasing one.

heavystarch 1 year and 9 months ago

At least it is only one fan located at the back. I would expect the NAIM engineers to have conducted listening test as well to see if the fan noise was bothersome. It's quite possible they run the fan at half speed which would drastically lower noise output to a mere shadow of a whisper.

Of course the only way to know is to have it in your system and listen.
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